System and method for providing a portable game

ABSTRACT

A game is assembled from elements formed at least in part from packaging materials such as a carton, article carriers, and plastic bottles or other containers. In the exemplary embodiment, a game board is formed from a game board blank that is detached from a carton. Additional game board elements, including goals, player pieces, game balls, and a control bar assembly, are formed from article carriers, bottle caps, and other article accessories such as straws. The game board elements are assembled with the game board to form the game such that the goals are secured to the bottom panel of the game board, control bars extend between the side walls of the game board, and the player pieces are attached to control bars.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/699,293, filed Jul. 13, 2005, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to cartons, and specifically relates to a carton that can be converted into a game board.

BACKGROUND

To supplement advertising efforts, manufacturers and retailers may increase the sales of consumer products by giving away promotional items. It can easily be appreciated that, to be effective, such promotional items must be attractive to the consumer and inexpensive for the company.

A multiple-player simulated sports game is attractive to consumers. For example, many soccer fans enjoy playing a simulated soccer game that is commonly called foosball. Foosball generally recreates a soccer field that has goals on each end. In addition, objects or game pieces are mounted on rods and positioned transversely above the soccer field to represent soccer players. Users rotate and slide the rods to move the game pieces with the intention of propelling a ball into the opponent's goal.

Typical simulated soccer games are very large and expensive and usually found only in arcades at a per use cost. Home versions have been developed, but are bulky and costly as well. Disadvantageously, such home games take up substantial floor or table space and are not easy to temporarily stow. Therefore, consumers would appreciate an inexpensive and storable simulated sports game.

Board games have been provided as promotional items in the past. However, to remain inexpensive, the games are detached from the back of product boxes, such as cereal boxes, and are typically single-player games. In addition, the known promotional games and giveaways do not provide the consumer with a fully usable multiplayer game. Further, there are no collapsible and inexpensive tabletop sports games that simulate a playing field with movable playing pieces that can be simultaneously controlled by one or more players.

Therefore, deficiencies and inadequacies exist in the prior art that are solved by providing attractive and inexpensive multiplayer tabletop games to be given as promotional items.

SUMMARY

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a simulated sports game board that is inexpensive to manufacture and desirable to the consumer. The game is an excellent promotional item for increasing sales of products as it is preferably formed from product packaging that includes logos and other marketing information that would otherwise be discarded and as it incorporates product accessories or packaging components as game pieces or components.

The invention provides a foldable and collapsible game board made of paperboard or other suitable substrate that is easy for the consumer to assemble and store. Playing pieces and other movable game board elements can also be constructed from the same substrate and/or from product accessories, such as bottle caps, article carriers, and straws.

One advantage of the present invention is that the games provided have great play value. The consumer is enticed to buy the related products because the promotional games are entertaining and durable. The present invention further provides an inexpensive but sturdy game for multiple players.

In the exemplary embodiment, the invention provides for a tabletop version of the popular soccer game known as foosball. Game board elements, such as player pieces representing soccer players, can be made available to the consumer as detachable components of product packaging. In addition, a collapsible paperboard game board can be provided directly to consumers as a promotional item with or without a cost, or provided as part of the product packaging. For example, the game board can be integral to and detachable from a carton. It can be appreciated that such a game board would encourage consumers to collect the game board elements and thus promote the sale of more products. Additionally, other sports and games of skill may be simulated with the present invention.

Generally described, one embodiment of the foldable and collapsible simulated sport game board is formed from a suitable substrate of foldable sheet material. The game board is easily erected and assembled and game board elements, including a control bar assembly, are attached thereto. Player pieces are attached or mounted to the control bar such that the control bar assembly facilitates controlling player pieces. The control bar suspends the player pieces above the bottom panel of the game board. The structure and configuration of the game board lends itself to being provided as part of the secondary packaging a consumer product, including but not limited to a carton for enclosing consumable food or beverage products.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the game board is formed from a blank of a single uniform sheet of paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, laminates, any combination thereof, or the like, although it is contemplated that the game board may be formed from multiple sheets or from a substrate that is nonuniform. The blank is includes an essentially rectangular bottom panel with side and end panels along edges of the rectangle. Each side and end panel is foldable along fold lines to form side and end walls.

Certain game board elements are held in place by means for attaching the elements to the game board, such as retention tabs and mated receiving slots. For example, goals are mounted to the bottom panel of the game board by means for attaching. The retention tabs are capable of passing through corresponding holes or slots, which can be defined by severance lines, frangible lines, or any combination of cuts, half-cuts, scores, or perforations. The side and end panels are folded and retained in an erected condition by means for securing to create walls on all sides of the game board. Means for securing the side and end panels in an erected condition can similarly include retention tabs and mated receiving slots.

In the exemplary embodiment, player pieces, such as those shaped like soccer players, may be available to the consumer either separately or as part of primary or secondary product packaging. The consumer can collect the representative players of their favorite teams by repeatedly purchasing the product. Alternatively, one or more game board elements, such as an entire team of player pieces, may be purchased by the consumer or provided to the consumer as a giveaway item.

According one aspect of the invention, means for controlling player pieces includes one or more control bar assemblies. The control bar assemblies may be rotatably and slidingly attached to the sidewalls of the game board so that they are suspended above the game board. In one exemplary embodiment, the control bar assemblies are constructed of drinking straws and plastic bottle caps. For example, two beverage straws are connected end-to-end and mounted in the opposing sidewalls of the game board. The control bar assemblies further comprise a bottle cap and paperboard stopper on one end, which are assembled to form a control knob for the control bar assembly and to prevent the control bar assembly from sliding too far through the side wall of the game board. The paperboard stopper is sized to fit snugly within the threaded interior of the plastic bottle cap, and includes an aperture or hole through which one end of the control bar assembly is disposed in order to attach the control knob to the control bar. Thereby, the control knob is rotated and translated to control the player pieces attached to the control bar.

According to another aspect of the invention, a game ball is provided to the consumer. In the exemplary embodiment, a game ball blank includes two portions that include trapezoidal flaps around the perimeter of a hexagonal center section. The consumer folds and connects the end tabs of opposing flaps into a game ball having a near-spherical shape. In other embodiments, a bottle cap is used as a game ball.

After attaching the control bar assemblies, with player pieces mounted thereon, to the sidewalls of the game board and after placing the assembled ball on the game board, two or more users can simulate a soccer game by sliding and rotating the control bar assemblies or otherwise controlling the player pieces in an attempt to propel the ball through the opening defined by the opponent's goal. While the offensive users try to advance the ball with their player pieces, the defensive users try to block the advancing ball with their player pieces.

The consumer is thereby afforded a portable soccer game that is easily storable and provides great play value. The product marketer is thereby afforded a promotional item that is inexpensive to manufacture, attractive to the consumer, and may encourage further purchases from the consumer. The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first side of an exemplary embodiment of a game board blank, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second side of the game board blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a goal blank according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially erected game board being formed from the game board blank of FIG. I and the goal blank of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5-7 show exemplary embodiments of an article holder, each including alternative embodiments of game board elements, according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a game ball, according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a control bar assembly, according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fully assembled game board, according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary carton including the game board blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an article holder of FIGS. 5-7, the article holder being loaded with articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials, or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certain of the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of packaging materials that can be assembled to form a game. Generally described, the game is formed from at least a portion of packaging materials such as cartons, article carriers, and/or plastic bottles. In the exemplary embodiment, a game board is formed from a game board blank that is detached from a carton and additional game board elements are formed from article carriers, bottle caps, drinking straws and other article accessories. The game board elements are assembled with the game board to form the game such that the game board defines a field and the game board elements define goals, controllable player pieces, and a game ball. Specifically, the goals are secured to the bottom panel of the game board, control bars extend between the side walls of the game board, and the player pieces are attached to control bars to assemble the game.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of game board blank 10. The game board blank 10 may be formed from any suitable substrate, as defined herein. It is to be understood that, as used herein the term “suitable substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, laminates, any combination thereof, and the like. Further, the terms “fold line” and “severance line” refer to all manner of printed lines indicating optimal fold or cut locations, frangible or otherwise weakened lines, perforations, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, a cut line, scored lines, slits, any combination thereof, and the like. Similarly, the terms “slot” and “perforations” as used herein, including in the claims, both include any frangible line, cut-out, scores, slits, half-cuts, weakened line, printed line for cutting, and the like.

The game board blank 10 is a detachable portion of secondary product packaging such as a carton 300 (shown in FIG. 11). In the exemplary embodiment, the game board blank 10 is be detachably formed from certain walls of the carton 300. Referring to FIG. 1, once detached from the carton 300, the game board 10 comprises a rectangular bottom panel 12, side panels 14, 16 hingedly connected along opposite side edges of the bottom panel 12, and end panels 18, 20 hingedly connected along opposite end edges of the bottom panel 12.

The playing surface P on one side of the game board blank 10 is printed or otherwise demarcated with graphics and field lines. Specifically, the side of the game board blank 10 shown in FIG.1 is not necessarily printed, but the opposite side of the game board blank 10 shown in FIG. 2 is printed. The printed side may be smoother or may be coated with known substances to prepare the surface of the paperboard packaging material of the blank 10 to be colored or otherwise to receive graphics. With regard to FIG. 2, the printed side of the game board blank 10 is printed so as to resemble a soccer field with goal lines 22 and field dividing lines 24. In alternative embodiments, the game board 10 may be of any shape, be designed and printed to resemble any sports field or game board, remain unprinted, or be printed with graphics of any kind. Further, the game board blank 10 may be laminated or covered with a different material. For example, the game board blank 10 may be covered with miniature turf to resemble a putting green. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the finish of the playing surface P and the manner of demarcation is merely a design choice.

Returning to FIG. 1, side and end panels 14, 16, 18, 20 are each hingedly connected to the bottom panel 12 along a fold line 25. In the illustrated embodiment, each side and end panel 14, 16, 18, 20 further includes fold lines 26, 27. The fold lines 25, 26, 27 of each side and end panel 14, 16, 18, 20 are parallel to one another and define support panels 28, 29, 30. The side panels 18, 20 include rows of apertures 31 which receive certain elements of the game board, as described in further detail below. Specifically, a row of apertures is disposed in support panels 28, 29 of each of the side panels 18, 20.

The game board blank 10 includes means for securing the support panels 28, 29, 30 of each of the side and end panels 14, 16, 18, 20 in an erected condition, as described in further detail below. In the exemplary embodiment, means for securing panels includes tab members 32 that are attached or integral to the outermost support panel 30 and includes slots 34 that are disposed along or are otherwise adjacent to fold lines 25. The slots 34 correspond to the tab members 32 such that the tab members 32 can be matingly received in the slots 34 to releasably secure the support panels 28, 29, 30 in an erected condition. It should be noted that means for securing panels may be any mechanical or chemical connecting mechanism, or combination thereof, including but not limited to tabs, slots, clips, straps, glue or other adhesive, tape, staples, and the like.

Similarly, the game board blank 10 includes means for attaching game board elements to the bottom panel 12. In the exemplary embodiment, means for attaching game board elements to the bottom panel 12 includes slots 40 that matingly receive corresponding tab members attached to certain game board elements, as described in further detail below. Alternate means for attaching game board elements to the bottom panel 12 include Velcro®, glue or other adhesive, clips, straps, tape, staples, and the like.

Each tab member 32 is shaped to include a wider distal portion 36 and a narrower neck portion 38. The distal portion 36 is wider that the width of a respective slot 34. Thereby, the size and shape of the tab member 32 and of a respective slot 34 are such that the tab member 32 can flex or fold to pass through the respective slot 34 and, once the distal portion 36 of the tab member 32 passes through the slot 34, the tab 32 unfolds such that the distal portion 36 of the tab member 32 inhibits the tab member 32 from being removed from the slot 34. The tab member 32 may be removed from the slot 34 by folding or flexing the distal portion 36 of tab 32 so as to fit through slot 34. This means for securing creates a suitably strong, but separable, attachment for bracing and fixing the panels in a desired configuration.

The game board blank 10 can be erected to form a game board 70, as shown in FIG. 4. Each of the side and end panels 14, 16, 18, 20 are folded such that the support panels 28, 29, 30 form a tubular structure having a triangular cross-section. The tab members 32 are inserted through the slots 34 to maintain the side and end panels 14, 16, 18, 20 in an erected condition and thereby define side and end walls 74, 76, 78, 80, respectively, along the perimeter of the bottom panel 12 of the game board 70. In this embodiment, the support panel 28, which is integral to each wall 74, 76, 78, 80, is oriented at an angle of approximately forty five degrees with respect to the bottom panel 12 of the game board 70 so as to allow a game ball to roll up the wall 74, 76, 78, 80 and then return the ball to play on the bottom panel 12. However, any suitable sidewall configuration may be used including a configuration where the support panel 28 of each wall 74, 76, 78, 80 is substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel 12. In addition, side walls of different cross-sections, including square, rectangular, polygons, and simple two dimensional vertical walls, are contemplated. As side walls 74, 76 are erected, the apertures 31 in support panel 28 horizontally align with apertures 31 in support panel 29 and, together, define a control bar assembly support 82, as described in further detail below. It should be noted that a single-ply panel can define a wall and a single aperture in that side wall can define a control bar assembly support.

Exemplary game board elements that are mounted to, supported by, or otherwise used in conjunction with the game board 70 in order to play a game are now described. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a goal blank 50. The goal blank 50 may be made of any suitable substrate as defined above with reference to the game board blank 10. The exemplary goal blank 50 is generally in the shape of the capital letter H and comprises two foldable goals 52 that are separable along a severance line 54. Each goal 52 includes a front panel 56 having a cutout C and side panels 58 that are hingedly connected to the front panel 56 along fold lines 62. Means for attaching each goal 52 to the bottom panel 12 of the game board 70 includes tabs 60 that protrude from the bottom edge of each of the side panels 58.

Each goal 52 can be erected and mounted to the game board 70, as shown in FIG. 4. The goal 52 is erected by folding each side panel 58 along fold lines 62 such that the side panels 58 are substantially perpendicular to the front panel 56. The tabs 60 are inserted into respective slots 40 to detachably mount each goal 52 to the bottom panel 12 of the game board 70. Thus, means for attaching the goal 52 to the game board 70 includes the tabs 60 and the slots 40.

Referring momentarily to FIGS. 11 and 12, the exemplary embodiment is described in the context of a package including a carton 300 enclosing articles that are grouped within the package by article carriers 90, 110, 120. The exemplary carton includes a top wall 302, end walls 304, 306, side walls 308, 310, and a bottom wall 312. The blank 10 is integral to and detachable from the carton 300, being formed from at least a portion of at least one of the carton walls 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312. In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom wall 312 of the carton becomes the bottom panel 12 of the game board 70 after it is detached. Similarly, a lower portion of each of the end 304, 306 and side walls 308, 310 becomes the end 18, 20 and side panels 14, 16, respectively. Those skilled in the art will recognized that the blank 10 is separable from the remainder of the walls of the carton 300 by means such as any combinations of severance lines, cut lines, and the like. It is also contemplated that the carton 300 need not include all of the aforementioned walls, but rather, the blank 10 can be formed from any of the walls 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312 or any suitable combination of same.

Each article carrier 90,110, 120 secures a subset of articles in a desired configuration for easy dispensing and for convenience. For example, the carton 300 may enclose twenty four beverage bottles B, which are further grouped by eight article carriers that each secure three bottles B. The consumer can thus easily remove three bottles B at a time, consume the beverages, and save the elements that are useable for the game, as further described below. The exemplary article carrier is a flexible, neck-receiving collar with a carrying tab or handle. It should be noted that groups of articles may be packaged by an article carrier without being additionally grouped by a carton and that articles in a carton may not be grouped by an article carrier.

FIGS. 5-7 are plan views of exemplary embodiments of article carriers 90, 110, 120. Each article carrier 90, 110, 120 includes a handle portion and a main portion. The handle portion includes a handle aperture that defines a handle flap. The main portion is a collar that includes a plurality of article receiving apertures 92. Thereby, the article receiving apertures 92 can receive articles, such as bottles B, and the handle aperture can be engaged to carry the articles with the article carrier 90, 110, 120. In the illustrated embodiments, the article carriers 90, 110, 120 are constructed from the same substrate as the game board blank 10. Nevertheless, it is contemplated that an article carrier can be constructed of any material sturdy enough to endure normal use. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated article carrier. Rather, the scope of the invention includes any known article carrier in which a game board element may be defined. Accordingly, the size, shape, and features of the illustrated article carriers may be altered to, for example, carry articles of different shapes and/or sizes.

In the exemplary embodiment, detachable game board elements are defined in the main panel and in the handle portion of the article carriers 90, 110, 120 by severance lines. The handle flap of each of the article carriers 90, 110, 120 includes a stopper 94. The stopper is defined by a severance line 98 and includes an aperture 96 which is disposed at the approximate center of the stopper 94. In the exemplary embodiment, the aperture 96 is sized to receive the end of a control bar, as described in further detail below.

The main panel each of the article carriers 90, 110, 120 includes additional game board elements. The article carriers 90, 110 include embodiments of player pieces 100 that are defined by severance lines 99. Flaps 102 are located on opposite sides of each player piece 100. Each flap 102 includes a receiving aperture 104 that facilitates removably mounting each respective player piece 100 to a control bar 150, as described in further detail below. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the player pieces represents a generic soccer player that typically plays offense or defense on the field or a goalie that protects the goal.

The main panel of the article carrier 120 includes a game ball blank 110 that is defined by a severance line 112. The game ball blank 110 is detachable along severance line 112 and can be erected to form a game ball 124, as shown in FIG. 8. Each portion 122 a, 122 b of the game ball blank 110 includes a hexagonal center section 126 and perimeter sections 128 that are hingedly connected to each edge of the hexagonal center section 126 along fold lines 130. The perimeter sections 128 are substantially trapezoidal in shape and the shorter of the two parallel edges of each perimeter section 128 is hingedly connected to the hexagonal center section 126 along fold line 130. In addition, connecting flaps 132 are hingedly connected to the longer of the two parallel edges of certain perimeter sections 128.

To erect the game ball 124, the perimeter sections 128 are folded along respective fold lines 130 at an angle approximately forty-five degrees from the plane of the hexagonal center section 126 such that the angled edges of adjacent perimeter sections 128 meet to create two concave shapes which, when joined together with connecting flaps 132, form a game ball 124 (shown in FIG. 8) having an approximately spherical shape. The connecting flaps 132 can be fixedly attached, by mechanical or chemical means for fastening, to the surface of a respective perimeter section 128 to form the game ball 124. Alternatively, the consumer may be given a pre-assembled game ball, or may utilize any appropriately sized ball or other game piece, such as a bottle cap.

It should be noted that the player pieces or other board game elements that are printed or otherwise defined on the article carriers and further defined by severance lines can be any configuration that facilitates playing the game described herein or the like. Further, the board game elements are not limited to being formed in and detached from an article carrier. Rather, in other alternative embodiments, player pieces may be provided to a consumer in a sheet of substrate that is not an article carrier or the player pieces may be independently provided, having already been separated from a sheet of substrate. For example, the player pieces can be formed from a tag or label affixed to or otherwise associated with an article or with the carton, or the player pieces may be integral to a wall of the primary packaging that encloses the consumable product itself. The player pieces may be designed to resemble or represent famous players or generic competitors. Further, the game pieces may be decorated with specific team colors or decorated with any optional decorative feature. As used herein, the terms players, competitors, and teams are used broadly to include non-human competitors or characters such as animals, objects, and motorized vehicles that may play or compete.

In the exemplary embodiment, the game board elements, including the goals, stoppers, players, and balls, are removable from the surrounding substrate along severance lines. However, in alternative embodiments, the user may remove these items from the surrounding substrate with any cutting device, such as scissors, a knife, or the like. In addition, an article carrier may comprise fewer or more game pieces than illustrated.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of control bar assembly 140 which is assembled from game board elements. It should be noted that the game board elements used to form the control bar assembly 140 can include or be formed from any combination of primary or secondary packaging material or product accessories. In the exemplary embodiment, the control bar assembly 140 includes multiple attached drinking straws 142, 144 that define a control bar 150 and includes a control knob 146 at one end of the control bar 150. The control knob 146 is assembled from a stopper 94 and a bottle cap 148. Specifically, stopper piece 94 is inserted within the concave, threaded area of a bottle cap 148 to form the control knob 146. Drinking straws 142,144 are attached end to end to form a control bar 150. More specifically, the open end of a first straw 142 receives the compressed end of a second straw 144 to create an extended control bar 150. An end of the control bar 150 is inserted into the stopper aperture 96 to releasably secure the control knob 146 to the control bar 150 and, thereby, form the control bar assembly 140. It should be noted that, in alternative embodiments, the control bar assembly may be created using any structure that defines an axis and that is configured to translate laterally along that axis and rotate about that axis.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fully assembled embodiment of a game 200, according to the present invention. The game pieces 100 are removably attached to the respective control bar assemblies 140, by folding the flaps 102 such that the apertures 104 align and by threading the control bar 150 through each of the aligned apertures 104. The control bar assemblies 140 are inserted through the apertures 31 that define control bar assembly supports 82 such that the control bars 150 are suspended above the bottom panel 12 of the game board 70. Thereby, the control bars 150 extend between sidewalls 74, 76 and the control knob 146 prevents the control bar assembly 140 from sliding out of the control bar assembly supports 82 as the control bar 150 is translated when in use with the assembled game 200.

For game play of the illustrated embodiment, each user may operate or otherwise translate and rotate the control bar assembly 140 in an effort to move the game ball 124 through a goal 52. Any suitable number of users may operate one or more of the control bar assemblies 140. For example, eight users may operate one control bar assembly 140 each. With regard to the illustrated soccer game, a user operates three bars with the generic player pieces 100 and an outermost bar, or the bar which is adjacent a goal 52, with a goalie player piece 100. A distal end of each of the generic player pieces 100 extends from the axis defined by the control bar 150 such that, when a user rotates the control bar assembly 140, the distal end of the player pieces 100 can propel, or “kick”, the game ball 124, for example, toward the goal 52. The control bar assembly 140 can be translated to position one of the generic player pieces 100 in order to attempt to propel the game ball or to block an opponents projection of the game ball 124.

In alternative embodiments, the number of control bar assemblies and the number of game pieces may be any number or combination to play the game described herein or a similar game. For example, other sports, including but not limited to football, ice hockey, field hockey, tennis, ping pong, basketball, and the like, where opposing players or teams defend opposing goals, may be simulated with the present invention. Further, sports or games that require opposing players or teams to race or demonstrate skill by manipulation of means for controlling player pieces, including but not limited to billiards or pool, curling, bocce, and the like, may be simulated with the present invention.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, additional alternative game embodiments may require alternative means for controlling player pieces that may or may not require mounting on the game board. It is contemplated that the length of the bar 150 is sufficient to allow each game piece to be moved from side to side, by pushing or pulling along the axis of bar 150, in order to cover a certain portion of the playing field.

The present invention has been described and shown in relation to a particular embodiment that is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, as used herein, directional references such as “top,” “base,” “bottom,” “end,” “side,” “inner,” “outer,” “under,” “middle,” “center,” “front” and “rear” do not limit the respective panels of the carton and game board to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these structural characteristics from one another. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is described by the claims appended hereto and supported by the foregoing.

As used herein, the term “primary packaging” refers to packaging that immediately envelopes a product and is expected to provide most of the strength and moisture/vapor/grease barrier needed to safeguard its purity, potency and integrity, and “secondary packaging” refers to outer package into which the primary package is placed, e.g., a folding carton, a fold-over blister card, a display carton, or a shipping container. Secondary packaging may provide additional barrier properties, but its major function is to protect the product during shipping and distribution, to facilitate carrying and transportation, to provide essential information and attractive retail display, and, especially with high-end products, to project a distinctive brand image. 

1. A carton, comprising: a plurality of walls hingedly connected one to another along edges thereof; a game board blank detachably defined in at least a portion of at least one of said walls, the blank comprising: a bottom panel having a playing surface; at least one side panel hingedly connected to said bottom panel; and means for securing said at least one side panel in an erected condition wherein at least a portion of said at least one side panel is disposed at an angle less than 180 degrees with respect to the playing surface of said bottom panel.
 2. The carton of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching a game board element to said bottom panel.
 3. The carton of claim 2, wherein said means for attaching a game board element to said bottom panel comprises at least one slot for receiving a tab member of a game board element.
 3. The carton of claim 2, wherein said game board element is selected from the group consisting of: a ball, a goal, a player piece, and a rod.
 4. The carton of claim 2, wherein said game board element is detachably defined in at least a portion of at least one of said plurality of walls.
 5. The carton of claim 1, wherein means for securing said at least one side panel in an erected condition comprises a tab member attached to a distal end of said side panel and a slot disposed in the game board blank.
 6. The carton of claim 5, wherein said slot is disposed adjacent to the hinged connection between said bottom panel and said at least one side panel.
 7. The carton of claim 1, wherein said at least one side panel comprises two side panels hingedly connected to opposite edges of said bottom panel, each of said side panels comprising at least one aperture for receiving an end of a control bar.
 8. A game, comprising: a game board that is detachably formed at least in part from at least one wall of a carton for enclosing articles, the game board comprising: a bottom panel including a playing surface; and a plurality of walls hingedly attached along the perimeter of said bottom panel; at least one goal attached to said bottom panel; at least one control bar assembly extending between two opposing ones of said plurality of walls; and at least one player piece attached to said control bar assembly, said control bar assembly being rotatable and translatable to control said at least one player piece.
 9. The game of claim 8, wherein said playing surface of the bottom panel includes demarcations that replicate the boundaries of a field.
 10. The game of claim 8, wherein at least one of said at least one player piece and said goal is detachably formed from at least one wall of said carton.
 11. The game of claim 8, wherein each of said two opposing ones of said plurality of walls comprises at least one support for supporting the ends of said at least one control bar.
 12. The game of claim 8, further comprising a game ball, wherein said player piece being controllable to propel said game ball.
 13. A package, comprising: at least one article; a carton enclosing said at least one article, said carton comprising a plurality of walls; and a game board blank detachably formed from at least one of said walls, said game board blank comprising: a bottom panel; at least one side panel hingedly connected to said bottom panel; and means for securing said at least at least one side panel in an erected condition to form a wall.
 14. The package of claim 13, wherein said package further comprises a plurality of game board elements, at least one of said game board elements being selected from the group consisting of: a ball, a goal, a player piece, and a rod.
 15. The package of claim 14, wherein at least one of said game board elements is detachably formed from at least one of said walls.
 16. The package of claim 14, wherein at least one article is further packaged within said carton by an article carrier, and at least one of said game board elements is formed from said article carrier.
 17. The package of claim 14, wherein at least one of said game board elements is formed from a bottle cap. 